Rape Culture In Gaming
Reblogged from shattersnipe: malcontent & rainbows:
About a week ago, I wrote a post on Penny Arcade vs. Rape Culture, which sent my blog traffic skyrocketing after it was linked on Reddit. However, both in comments on the post itself and elsewhere on Reddit, quite a few people seemed to be missing the point: or, more specifically, misunderstanding what rape culture actually is and how it applies to gaming.
Hi everyone! I had planned on writing about Anita Sarkeesian today, but I found another blog that has done a much better job than I would have. Foz Meadows very clearly explains why and how internet and gaming Rape Culture is toxic, leads to misogyny, and can actually engender sexual assault and rape. I hope you all enjoy it.
Posted on June 13, 2012, in Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink. 6 Comments.
There was a follow-up post to this after the reaction to the initial post were along the lines of “prove it, bitch!”. http://fozmeadows.wordpress.com/2012/06/11/rape-culture-in-gaming/
That was actually the blog that I linked to. The explanation is so very well done.
I’m not in the mood to search the links.
But what’s the definition of rape in gaming?What gaming are you referring to?
If you’re not going to read the post, then I am not going to answer your question. It’s a long post, but well worth the read.
I think the article you linked to makes some great and necessary points, but I was a little taken aback when she seemed to define rape as something only experienced by women, with straight men being the sole perps. Men can be raped too, and women can be raped by other women as well, though that is rare. I get that the article was dealing with a form of misogyny in gaming culture, and it’s one I’ve criticized often.I’m with her on that point. But I do think it’s important to acknowledge (as you gestured to in your May 30 post) that men can sometimes face sexual violence and rape too. In my experience, once that is acknowledged (and it can be a bit of a mind-blow for some men, to suddenly see themselves as a potential rape victim) culture starts to change a whole lot quicker. Just my two cents.
This is an excellent example of mansplaining.
Here’s the woman’s point of view: Men don’t get raped in video games.